Method and device for compensating electricity on hides



June 24, 1930.

F. HAUSMANN v I METHOD AND DBVICEFO-R COMPENSATING ELECTRICITY ON HIDES med June 23. 1928 To these ends the Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE FRITZ HLUSHANN, OI OFFENIBACH-ON-THE-EAIN, GERMANY, .ASIGNOR TO THE IIBI BECKER & CO., 01' OFFENBAOH-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COHPEN'SATING ON HIDES I Application fled June as, 1928, Serial no.

This invention relates to a method and means for lpreparing hides and skins for dyeing or a l' e operation in which a liquidis applied to them, and particularly to the re- 5 moval of dirt and dust from the surfaces t be treated.

To this end rovision is made of brushes for'rubbin an brushing the opposite sides of the leat er to remove the dirt and dust. The brushing and rubbing, however, result in the production of a ositive charge of static electricity on one slde of the leather, and a negative charge on the other; The dust particles removed also become charged with static electricity, the charges on the dust particles being of the o posite sign from the charges on the face 0 the leather from which they have been removed. If the work were done in a dry atmosphere, therefore the dust articles would tend to return to the leather ecause of the charges which they, themselves, carry and also because of the char es on the leather. The dust would also ten to return to the up r surface of the leather under the action 0 gravity.

In accordance with the present invention provision is made for assuring the com lete removal of the dust and dirt rubbed o by the brushes and for discharging the static electricity on the leather so that the leather may not attract dust either from the atmosphere in the brushing chamber, or from the outside atmosphere upon emerging from the brushing chamber.

leather is fed through an enclosed brushing chamber where the brush- 7 ing is done, and provision is made of a suction conveyor for conducting away the dusty air in the chamber. Provision is alsomade of means for replacing the removed air with fresh clean air, and of means for introduc= ing steam into the chamber to render the atmosphere in which the brushing is done conductive. in the brushing chamber is conductive results in the discharging of the static electricity on the dust particles and, in a measure,

tricity on the leather. The dust particles,

' therefore, instead of returning to the leather,

The fact that the atmosphere 1n the discharging of theJstatic elec- 287,867, and in Germany August 25, 1927.

are swept away by the air stream, so that the leather is completely freed of dust and dirt.

Adjacent the exit opening of the brushing chamber provision is made of electrical contact brushes which engage the opposite faces of the leather, and Wh10h are in electrical contact with one another, and with the ground. The positive and negative charges on the opposite faces of the leather are thus caused to neutralize one another, and, in so far as there may be any failure of neutralization, the su lus charge is conducted to the ground so 1: at the leather emerges from the brushing chamber completely freed of static electricity, both faces of the leather being at ground potential. j

The dye, which may consist of lac or other chemical with which the leather is to be treated, is', sprayed on the leather immediately upon its emergence from the brush ing chamber. In order to prevent the accumulation of an insulat' conductive discharge b es or lame ae provision is made of a shield between the sprayer and such lamellae.

Other objects and advantages will herein after appear. 1

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, sectional, side elevation of apparatus embodying features of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, detail elevation of a modified arrangement of the conductive brushes or lamellae. I In a brushing chamber (1) there arethree rotary brushes (2) arranged so as to en a e the upper and lower surfaces of a Inge spread over frames and gliding known tracks. (3). At the entrance of the said chamber stationary-brushes (4) of the ordinary type are provided. A conduit (5) supplies fresh air through branches to the upper and the lower portions of the brushin chamber and furnishes fresh air to the chamber. In thesaid conduit (5) for supplying fresh air a steam pipe (7) is fitted with a nozzle piece (8 through which steam is conducted to the brushing chamber along with the fresh air.

coating u on the I on the i the lac on the or any other mechanical devices,

' he and slips (13 I At the upper and the lower side of the brushing chamber there are delivery pipes 9 and 10) leading to a suction'ventilator 11). The frame covered with the hides leaves the brushing chamber atthe aperture 12). In front of the said aperture (12) t metal plates or slips (13, 14) are pivotally mounted on pins or shafts (15 and 16).

the hide while it is moving. For safety,

the lamellae (13 and 14) may also be arran ed in layers beside one another (Fig. 2) so t at the discharge of electricity will surely be effected completely. The lamellae 13 and 14) are electncally connected with each other and also mutually discharged to ground through the conductor (17). The 'de runs from the brushing chamber on the track (3) to the spraying room over the tank (18). The lac sprayer (19) squirting hide from above, would graduallycoat the lamellae (13) and partly also the slips (14) with a lac layer having an insulating action, by which the discharge might be impaired. For avoiding such impalrment, a protective shield (20) is provided, that ma be moved with the hand'or automatically by means of a lever or drawing contrivance (21). Automatic regulation of the movement of the said shield (20) can be obtained by arranging the end of the lever (21) to be moved by an electro-magnet so as to allow the hide to pass through when being conducted from the brushing chamber into the in'ection room, after which it will again place ltself automatically against the lameland 14) whilethe hide is being treated in the two chambers. The operation of the device is as follows:

On the sli track (3) the frames covered with the hides are conveyed, by means of a drawing roller contrivance or the like, to the brushi chamber(]1l) through the brushes (4). When the 'de is movi through this room, the rotary brushes 2% are in engagement with, and operate u n the upper and lower surfaces of the hide. The electricit already existing and particularly p uced throu h the brushes (2 and 4) is absorbed in the rushing chamber (1) by the ionized air saturated with water vapour and leaving at 6, and is carried off by the ventilator throu h the suction conduits (9 and 10). The rames on the track (3) are advanced step by step, the surface of the hide being sprinkled with lac by the lac sprayer (19 in an interval between successive steps. he protective piece (20) is opened manually or automatically while the frame is moving from "the brushing chamber to the injection room, and the lamellae and slips (13 and 14) will slide on the hide, and wi l discharge the electricity still carried by the hide surfaces through the round circuit 17).. After the frame has en passed over from the brushing chamber (1) to the injection room, the protective piece (20) will close again automatically, and the same process will be repeated.

As to the ionization of the atmos here or otherwise rendering it conductive,t is may be produced by an other means beside steam, as, for exam 'e, through ultra-violet radiation of quartz amps.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of treating hides which comprises brushing the hides in a closed chamber containing a conductive atmosphere, drawing off the removed dust, conducting away the static electric charge on the hide produced by brushing, and immediately thereafter applying a treating material to the hide.

2. The method of preparing a h'ide for dyeing or like treatment, whlch comprises brushing the hide in an enclosed chamber, rendering the atmosphere in said chamber conductive and conveying away the dust removed from the hide.

3. The method of freeing a hide from dust, which comprises brushing the dust from the hide, discharging the static electric charges thus produced on the dust particles and on the hide to prevent re-attraction of the dust to the hide, and conveying the dust away.

4. The method of freeing a hide from dust in preparation for a subsequent o eration in which it is required to be dustree, which comprises passing the hide through a brushing chamber, removing the dustby brushing and suction, and maintaining a conductive atmosphere in the chamber to facilitate such removal.

5. In an apparatus for cleaning leather, in combination, a chamber, means in the chamber for brushing the leather, means for sucking away the dust-laden air from the chamber, and means for introducing steam and fresh air into the chamber to maintain a conductive atmosphere therein.

6. In an apparatus for treating leather, in combination, a chamber, means in the chamber for brushing the leather, means for introducing steam into the chamber to facilitate the removal of the dust, and meansfor drawing the steamy dust-laden air out of the chamber.

7. In an apparatus for treating leather in combination, means for freeing the leat er of dust, comprising brushes, means for discharging from the leather the static electric charges formed by the brushing means, conductive brushes contacting the faces of the leather. for dischar 'ng static electricity from such faces, an means for depositing treating material on the surface of the leather.

, 8. In an apparatus for treating leather, in combination, a chamber, means including brushes forfreeing the leather of dust while I it is in the chamber, conductive brushes outside the chamber engaging the leather for eliminating static electricity from the faces thereof, means for spraying the leather, and shielding means interposed between the spraying means and the conductive brushes for preventing the deposit of the spraying material on the conductive brushes.

9.. In an apparatus for treating leather, in combination, a chamber, means including brushes for freeing the leather of dust while it is in the chamber, conductive brushes outside the chamber engaging the leather for eliminating static electricity from the faces thereof, means for spraying the leather, and shielding means interposed between the spraying means and the conductive brushes for preventing the deposit of the spraying material on the conductive brushes, said shielding means standing normally in an effective shielding position in which the passage of a hide is obstructed, and being operable to a non-obstructing position to permit the passa e of a hide from the chamber into position or spraying.

10. In an apparatus for treating leather, in combination, a chamber, means for feeding a hide through the chamber, means in the chamber for brushin the hide, means for introducing steam an fresh air into the chamber, means for drawing of the steamy dust-laden air from the chamber, and conductive brushes pivotally mounted just beyond the exit opening of the chamber and adapted by their own weight to maintain sliding engagement with the hide.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature this 2d dav of June, 1928.

FRITZ HAUSMANN. 

